The Empire’s Six Swords. Cloud Envoy Birang Brennis.
Leo’s master and the Spirit Lord’s disciple, who is under contract with the Wind Spirit King Naphras.
If Birang had come here on the Spirit Lord’s behalf, there would have been some kind of contact.
Since the Magic Lord Karia incident, the Spirit Lord has maintained a good relationship with me, and if that’s the case, she wouldn’t have to hide Birang’s admission.
However, Birang opened the invitation as an NPC without any contact at all.
Then she solved a problem they couldn’t and passed the exam.
“It seems excessive for the Spirit King or the Spirit Lord to have made it possible.”
The ability to penetrate and manipulate something is not granted to spirits.
Only a very select few can use such abilities.
“…….”
And I only know two races that fit that select few.
“Aren’t you going to speak?”
“…….”
“If you have nothing to say, you may leave again. I won’t deny your admission.”
“Not at all.”
Birang, who had hesitated, took a moment to choose her words.
Eventually, as if she had decided what to say, she slowly opened her mouth.
“First, let me rectify a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding?”
“I am not on the side of the former Imperial Sword Karia or Duke Robelian Huangyeol. I have received grace from Lady Arne from the past until now, and that feeling has never changed even once.”
However.
“Currently, it is correct that I have come here at the order of Duke Huangyeol.”
“What order was received?”
“I was commanded to enter Lady Lily’s Academy and find out what purpose there is behind such actions. I am on equal footing with the Emperor under Duke Huangyeol’s command. I cannot refuse a command.”
“The Duke has issued an order.”
“That’s right.”
That certainly explains the reason.
The ability to manipulate and alter things is more specialized for demons than for the celestial race.
If Karia, who freely wielded the magic and spell that is the main strength of demons, could break through the constraints and protections.
Even though Karia has become an idiot, her talent still remains, so restoring her abilities would be a piece of cake.
However, there is a slight concern.
“Why did you specifically assign the task to me?”
“Because I am the only one capable of passing the exam while simultaneously handling variables. Blood Fight Lord Kazar is strong but lacks brains, and the other swords are unsuitable for this task.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“Of course, there are more. As you know, after the fall of the Magic Lord Karia, the Empire shifted to a dual-power structure. The balance of power has shifted from three to two. Therefore, sending me, who is aligned with Lady Arne, could also be a means of keeping it in check.”
Birang replied confidently without hesitation.
She certainly seems confident in her abilities as much as her position.
Being one of the strongest on the continent and the right arm of Arne, that is only natural.
As a prominent figure and the right hand of Arne, it’s only natural.
But I recalled Duke Huangyeol’s previous actions.
Despite being a pathetic “Celestial Race,” they have the mindset of a mutant, not typical of their kind.
They’re more cautious than expected, and they’re not filled with the typical arrogance of the Celestial Race.
“Well…”
“…What?”
“Did you really just send a mere Duke to find out what she’s doing? A major figure from another faction, no less?”
“But those who can carry out this task─”
“There are 27 others. It’s rare, but not insufficient.”
Only NPCs are the ones who are unable to enroll.
If they have talent, Users can easily enroll, and 27 have proven that.
If it’s the Empire, they could recruit some of them as communication agents and one voice.
‘Leo and the Sword Saint, who have already claimed the top two positions, are prime examples.’
Birang’s expression becomes serious.
“No… it can’t be.”
“What did Duke Huangyeol say when he sent you?”
“…‘Lily has created something called an Academy. I will prepare the conditions for you to go there, so approach her and find out what she intends to do.’”
“……”
Duke Huangyeol.
The only Celestial left in a world that has seen the Celestial Race and the Demon Race vanish over thousands of years; remnants only remain.
He stands at the top of a great empire that dominates seven-tenths of the continent, a pinnacle of existence.
Such a being engages in wars he’s always won, only to face his first failure because of me.
He was restored by the Saintess but lost an arm in the process.
He lost two swords from that tremendous empire and even had his territory seized by the enemy.
If he were just a simple Celestial, such behavior would be expected, but…
“Oh, right.”
He is not just a simple Celestial.
“?”
“You were the objective all along.”
The pieces of the puzzle click into place.
At the same time, I felt that familiar disgust.
‘Even if a mutant, a Celestial is still a Celestial.’
“Birang Brennis. The very fact that you are getting close to me is Duke Huangyeol’s goal.”
“…What do you mean?”
Birang still doesn’t comprehend the meaning behind my words.
I stood up, leaving her behind.
It’s almost time for class to begin.
■
Lily Elbrite.
The one who brought down the Empress of the Empire and severed the arm of the great Celestial.
I heard many stories from Lady Arne and Lord Leo.
Everything from her background to her achievements. Though I didn’t witness it, I learned of the various clashes with the Empire.
To the stone.
Additionally, I came here after preparing a lot through the information given by Duke Huangyeol.
Although I am an enemy of the Empire, I’m not an enemy of Lady Arne.
The territory and sword that Lily took belong to Magic Lord Karia, and the immortal Leo has a very close relationship with Lily.
Perhaps Yena, who built a friendship first with her, is even more so than the Outsider, so there shouldn’t be any problems at all.
Even so, I was cautious since I was still, in a way, an enemy of the Empire…
‘… Am I the purpose of Duke Huangyeol?’
The ripples created by Lily.
As if Birang’s already complex mental state was stirred even more, she fell into deep contemplation.
I thought Duke Huangyeol’s purpose was simple.
Due to the significant harm caused by Lily, he aimed to control her and even Lady Arne.
It was a name befitting Duke Huangyeol, and given his temperament, I thought it was only natural.
He always moved the lower parties first to gain benefits, and if it was something the underlings could not resolve, he would only step in as a last resort.
‘But what if that wasn’t the case?’
What if controlling from the beginning was never his purpose?
‘Getting close? Was the purpose to build friendships with Lily all along?’
But why?
Why make me build a friendship?
If anything, if friendships grow and I become closer to the Empire’s enemy, it would cause problems controlling her.
“… Let’s go in for now.”
I still don’t know what Duke Huangyeol’s true intentions are, but there’s only one thing I can do right now.
It’s to approach Lily as planned and participate in the lecture.
I entered Lily’s lecture hall based on the map from my student ID.
“So… ”
“Uh…”
“…….”
Where did all the noisy people who were here just a moment ago go? The immortals who were waiting are now looking at me.
… Not a very friendly gaze.
“Cloud Envoy!”
“Lord Leo, you’re here too.”
“Yes. Hehe. I’m looking forward to what you will teach today!”
I sat next to Leo, who was the only one welcoming me warmly.
The empty lectern.
‘Is Lily still not here?’
“Lily… I guess the professor hasn’t come yet.”
“Yeah. But it’s almost time to start, so she might come soon?”
“I see.”
Nodding, I scanned the lecture hall again.
The exterior was quite impressive when I arrived, but the interior is also magnificent.
It’s even as majestic as the Empire’s academy or its buildings.
It doesn’t look like it was made separately… It’s amazing to think someone could conceive such a form directly.
By the way…
“You are quite hated, aren’t you?”
“Excuse me?”
“Can’t you feel it?”
In a lecture hall with about eight people.
Inside.
Everyone except for Yena, who was glancing this way in the front row, was looking at us with disdain.
The reason was obvious.
“Is it because of the war?”
The Empire waged war using the Siege War system.
Most of the kingdoms, excluding the Angel Guild that Lily was temporarily affiliated with, were trampled under the Empire’s flag, and the rankers were lords of those kingdoms.
Although they were regained by Lily, the powerlessness from that time still lingered.
Leo tilted his head and then scratched it.
“But wasn’t that a legitimate fight?”
“Some might think otherwise. Those who have not will always envy those who have.”
The Empire is the conqueror of the continent and naturally must reign above everyone.
Of course, it bothers me a little that Duke Huangyeol is above that.
‘Lady Arne is the root of the Empire!’
Effectively, half of the Empire could be said to belong to Lady Arne.
“I’ve never actually envied them.”
Someone got up from their seat.
A woman adorned in a splendid uniform of white and gold, holding a magic wand of the same color.
I’m sure that woman was in the information.
‘Was her name… Gunner?’
“Why are you jumping to conclusions by yourself?”
“I don’t understand why you’re so angry over something obvious.”
“Obvious or not, it’s nonsense.”
Crash!
Gunner’s magic wand charged with magical power for her magic engineering shotgun.
Blue magical bullets were loaded rapidly.
“Do you even know how many territories and kingdoms your younger brother destroyed? All my territory residents were swept away and injured.”
“I merely saw it as the inevitable damage of war. Rather, you should consider yourself lucky. Biron has a good heart and usually doesn’t commit killings.”
“Usually? Nonsense. He wiped everything out.”
“I did that too.”
“Lord Leo, stay out of this.”
Leo lowered his hand.
“Are the people here any different? They’re all people swept away by the Empire, so do you think they can look kindly upon it?”
“We provided enough compensation. Shouldn’t we be grateful for the mercy shown by the leader of the continent?”
“Huh?”
“What? Is there a problem? Compared to the great Empire, it’s nothing more than a handful—”
“Is that really what you call great?”
A sandy wind stirred in the empty podium.
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